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Common Sense Race Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families. (3.11)

When it comes time for Paine to criticize Britain, he compares their behavior to that of "savages" or Native Americans. Or in this case, he says that not even savages hurt the people they love, meaning that the Brits are even worse than savages for causing so much harm to their colonies. The main point here is that Native Americans are savage, but the British are even worse. The argument relies on racist assumptions either way.

Quote #8

There are thousands, and tens of thousands, who would think it glorious to expel from the continent that barbarous and hellish power, which hath stirred up the Indians and Negroes to destroy us. (3.50)

Paine accuses the British of causing unrest with the black slaves and Native Americans, which might one day lead both of these groups to attack the white American settlers. Eventually, both of these groups would do exactly this. But Paine's fear shows his deep-seated concern about the fact that Native Americans and African slaves have very good reasons to want to hurt the so-called "freedom-loving" Americans.

Quote #9

And every line convinces, even in the moment of reading, that He, who hunts the woods for prey, the naked and untutored Indian, is less a Savage than the King of Britain. (A.2)

Once again, Paine takes a shot at the King of Britain by saying that even a savage Native American is better than him. It also happens to be an insult to Native Americans, who Paine sees as a bunch of uncultured animals.